Fletcher (Davy Russell) clears the last© Photo Healy Racing
Davy Russell completed a quick double at Leopardstown as Fletcher justified favouritism in the 2m4f maiden hurdle.
Successful half-an-hour earlier on the patiently-ridden Golan Road in the opening mares maiden hurdle, Russell changed tack here as he had the well-backed 5/4 market leader up with the pace throughout.
The Eddie Harty-trained gelding disputed throughout with Salsa Sensation before asserting approaching the final flight.
A fine leap at the last put the seal on a convincing victory as he stayed on well to beat Heck Thomas by eight lengths, with Salsa Sensation a further half-length adrift in third.
Harty said, "Davy gave him a super ride and Ruby (on front-runner Salsa Sensation) was a big help to him. I looked back five furlongs out when they closed up and was hoping he could stay there. I'm not as comfortable with them in front as coming from behind.
"When they turned in I thought he had put it to bed and he had. He was impressive in the end. He'll learn a lot from that. He jumped very well and every time Davy wanted one he got it.
"I don't know where he'll go. He couldn't have done it any better. It wasn't the strongest maiden ever run at Leopardstown but he didn't know that.
"He was entitled to win on his last run. I was a bit worried when Davy said beforehand that the ground was riding considerably quicker than given but he won more impressively than I thought he would.
"He'll have to go for a winner's of one now and we'll see from there. I'd still imagine he'll be a better horse on softer ground.
"The Westerners are tough horses and go on softer. He's a good stallion.
"I'm delighted as that's my first winner for Philip (Reynolds) and hopefully it will cement the relationship. It's also my first winner in this new enclosure here and I was wondering if I would ever get in."
(GC & AM)
